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Female fans normally know more facts about what’s going on than men do anyway. I’d say they’re a more intelligent fan on top of that. They normally know more about what we’ve done than we know about what we’ve done. --- Tony Stewart

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There are female fans who take apart engines and will take you apart if you have a problem with that; who are drawn to the danger and mystery of the sport; who watch races on TV to witness pure passion and unscripted emotion; who love the camaraderie of these family-friendly festivals; who feel the nervous anxiety of the lip-biting wives atop the pit boxes. --- Andrew Giangola “The Weekend Starts on Wednesday”

Gibson, who has worked for the premier sprint car series since 1995 and been the series announcer since 1997, attended his 1,500th consecutive World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series race. Take note, that's not 1,500 overall; it's 1,500 straight events that Gibson has seen.

This past weekend, the North American Sprint Car Poll recognized Gibson's tireless efforts by honoring him with the 2012 Outstanding Contribution to the Sport Award, which is the highest honor as voted by industry insiders.

"I'm very honored that there are people in the sport that feel I've actually had something to offer," Gibson said. "It's really unbelievable to me that I could get to this point from being just a race fan because that's really all I am. I just get to talk about it."

Gibson joins a variety of esteemed past recipients, including Kasey Kahne, the late Fred Brownfield, Tony Stewart, Jack Hewitt, Brad Doty, Steve Kinser, the late Don Martin, Earl Baltes and the late World of Outlaws Founder Ted Johnson, among others.

"For Johnny Gibson to earn this award, it speaks to the level of respect that people in our entire industry, nationwide, have for him and his work with the Outlaws," National Sprint Car Museum executive director Bob Baker said in a statement. "Carlton Reimers, who first handed a microphone to the program-selling western Pennsylvanian in 1995, should feel very proud, as would Carlton's father-in-law and founder of the WoO sprint car tour, the late Ted Johnson, if he were still with us."

From being a fan to selling programs at the events, Gibson turned his passion of sprint cars into a career by delivering his signature calls from the time the opportunity was given to him more than 15 years ago.

"Johnny has been our connection to the fans for so many years, and his dedication to the World of Outlaws and sprint car racing is unquestioned," World Racing Group CEO Brian Carter said. "It's only fitting he should be in the company as such legends of the sport, and we're excited for him to be recognized with this well-deserved honor."

Fans can hear Gibson as the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series kicks off the 2013 season at the 42nd annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment Feb. 12-23 at Volusia Speedway Park near Barberville, Fla.